Fort Regent Political Steering Group: Interim Report

STATES OF JERSEY

FORT REGENT POLITICAL STEERING GROUP: INTERIM REPORT

Presented to the States on 12th January 2011 by the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture

STATES GREFFE

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Introduction

This report is to update States members on the progress made by the Political Steering Group which was established as a result of adopting proposition P.188/2009 of the Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel, as amended, which agreed to request the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture –

(a)  to  establish  and  lead  a  political  steering  group,  consisting  of

representatives from the Education, Sport and Culture Department, Jersey Property Holdings, the Economic Development Department, the Planning and Environment Department, the Parish of St. Helier and at least one States Deputy of St. Helier No. 1 District, who would consult with other interested parties including the Jersey Heritage Trust and the Fort Users Association, with the aim of producing a cohesive and realistic plan for the future development of Fort Regent; and

(b)  to  take  the  necessary  steps  to  form  the  political  steering  group immediately and to provide quarterly updates to all States members of its progress regarding the formulation of a development plan for Fort Regent.'

Membership and meetings Membership of the Steering Group is –

Deputy J.G. Reed of St. Ouen , Minister for Education, Sport and Culture – Chairman Senator P.F. Routier, Assistant Minister for Economic Development

Deputy J.A.N. Le Fondré of St. Lawrence , Assistant Minister for Treasury and

Resources

Deputy R.C. Duhamel of St. Saviour , Assistant Minister for Planning and

Environment

Deputy T.M. Pitman of St. Helier

Connétable A.S. Crowcroft of St. Helier .

The Steering Group have met formally on 6 occasions and have received presentations on –

• the history of Fort Regent, bringing together information on past reports and demonstrating the importance of Fort Regent to St. Helier ;
• uses of Fort Regent since it has been a Leisure Centre, with information on current users, operating costs and subsidy levels;
• benefits of Fort Regent from an Economic Development point of view;
• existing  and  emerging  planning  policies  which  will  guide  the  future development opportunities at Fort Regent and the surrounding area;
• site surveys that have been commissioned by Property Holdings;
• opportunities for development at Fort Regent and surrounding areas from Property Holdings;
• the implications for the demolition of the pool structure;
• consideration of all previous reports on Fort Regent.

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The  Steering  group  is  supported  by  officers  from  Education,  Sport  and  Culture, Economic Development, Planning and Environment, Property Holdings and the Parish of St. Helier , who have carried out further work between the main meetings.

The  draft  Vision'  developed  by  the  group  (which  will  be  the  subject  of  public consultation) is to –

• maintain  and  enhance the  sport,  leisure  and  club  facilities  with  improved social facilities;
• ensure the historic nature of the site is conserved and made more accessible to the general public;
• promote development which complements, enhances and supports the primary uses;
• promote  commercial  opportunities  for  capital  and  income  generation  to enhance the facilities and increase footfall;
• retain the iconic nature of Fort Regent structures;
• improve access and enhance usage;
• bring the front door into St. Helier and integrate Fort Regent into the Town;
• explore  opportunities  for  adding  development  to  current  structure  in

partnership with the private sector.

The  Group  is  currently  in  the  process  of  identifying  those  assets  which  can  be developed  to  either  increase  or  support  the  core  activities  of  the  Fort,  and those opportunities arising will be carefully assessed before forming part of the draft plan.

The vision and proposals included in the draft plan will be the subject of an extensive public consultation, involving key stakeholders such as Fort user groups, sport, leisure and  entertainment  groups,  and  the  general  public,  from  the  elderly  through  to schoolchildren and nursery groups.

The feedback from the public consultation will inform the final development plan which will ultimately be presented to the States for approval.

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